Many used cameras shuttle around eBay from new owner to new owner getting further and further from their provenance. Sometimes though, a used camera engenders a close link to the original owner. Or at least it feels like it does.
This early 1961 eye-level Nikon F coupled with a 1961 50mm f/2 Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-S Auto lens (the Pat Pend version) is just such a camera. This camera and lens were likely originally sold as a pair together.
It has been extremely well looked after and surprisingly came with several unexpected extras which make me think it was a posthumous sale since the accessories collected by the original owner hadn't been scalped and sold seperately. They weren't even mentioned. In addition to the camera were four chrome ringed Nikon filters (yellow, orange, red, skylight) in original Nippon Kogaku keepers, the original Nikon F 50/2 lens hood, the funky shutter release cable (for the non standard threaded shutter release on the F), a very well worn leather strap plus the original Nikon F owners manual from 1961. A really nice assemblage that has presumably been together for 64 years given their concurrency.
Initially I had some trouble opening the back (I am not unfamiliar with the Nikon F and its removable back and they can be tricky). After a couple of tries I found the knack for this particular camera - slight pressure with two thumbs in the just the right place and it slides off sweetly. As it probably has done for its 64 year existence with the original owner.
Somebody has obviously used and cared for this camera. I'm glad it has been kept together with the accessories. I feel a definite connection with the original owner (presumably RIP).
Or I could be over-romaticising the whole thing. Who knows? I can be sentimental too.
I do need to get the mirror foams replaced which is not unexpected given the age. Then I can carry on taking pictures with it.